Biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for wildlife risk assessment: integrating endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
The state of art of the biomarker approach in ecotoxicology is reviewed with particular reference to its use in the assessment of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wildlife. The following topics are discussed: the theoretical basis of the biomarker approach; the advantages of biomarker strategies in biomonitoring programs; application of biomarker strategies in an ecotoxicological context; the main biomarker techniques; interpretation of the results; and the development and validation of nondestructive biomarkers.
Fossi
M C
MC
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Siena, Italy. fossi@umisi.it
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004463:Ecology; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015262:Xenobiotics